Greetings to ever one in western Illinois and all readers of The Quill.

Here we are already, the week of Thanksgiving, and next week we'll be in December, the first week of Advent.

Time shore goes by fast when you're have'n fun! As th' monkey with his tail cut off said, - "It won't be long now", and so it goes as we approach the Christmas Holiday Season.

Love Stronghurst

With that thought in mind, wasn't it nice last Friday at Stronghurst's Holiday Walk and Open House! So much was so good and all from a small country town such as ours here in western Illinois. We have much to be proud of.

Storm Tragedy

The 30 or so tornadoes last week did some terrible damage. A man's trousers was found over 60 miles away with his billfold yet in them, but he was not. Wedding pictures and checkbooks were found over 100 miles away. If'n ya has a house to rent it would be useful fer those who lost their homes (over 100 homes). If'n ya can free up some time, they also could use some help clean'n up debris, fallen trees and such. And, your prayers are always helpful.

"Ya cain't unscramble an egg" but help'n folk out with "Agape Love" goes a long ways in comfort'n a soul. Dwell on that thought fer a spell and then see what ya can do to help them folk out in need.

A Little Tike Helps

Keep this in mind as ya reflect'n on them folk harmed by the storm.

A four-year-old young'n, whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman, recently lost his wife. As the little boy watched the man cry, the little lad went into the old fellows yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.

When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy just said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry.'

Shoe Boy

Another little boy set the example of appreciate'n as follows:

It was a cold day in December, many years ago: A little boy, about 10-years-old, was stand'n before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shiver'n with cold.

A lady approached the young boy and said, "My, but you're in such deep thought stare'n in that window!'

"I was ask'n God ta give me a pair of shoes,' was the boy's reply.

The lady took him by the hand, went into the store, and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks fer the boy. She then asked if'n he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly fetched them fer her.

She took the little feller to the back part of the store and, remove'n her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with a towel.

By this time, the clerk had returned with the socks. Place'n a pair on the boys feet, she purchased him a pair of shoes.

She tied up the remain'n pairs of socks and gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, "No doubt, you will be more comfortable now.'

As she turned ta go, the astonished kid caught her with his little hand, and look'n up into her face, with tear filled eyes, and asked her: "Are you God's wife?'

Positive Attitude

Well, ya might say thats all well and good but what can I do to help them storm victims. Stop and think about little Jamie Scott.

Jamie was try'n out fer a part in the local school play. His mother told me wife that he'd set his heart on be'n in it, though she feared he would not be chosen.

On the day the parts were awarded, me wife went with her to collect him after school. Jamie rushed up to her, eyes shine'n with pride and excitement. "Guess what, mom', he shouted, and then said those words that will remain a lesson forever....I've been chosen to clap and cheer!

Humor

If'n noth'n else, clap and cheer for those need'n help but never loose heart in do'n well. Now fer a little humor.

We all know that God created man before woman, but then, me wife sez, "There is always a rough draft before the masterpiece!"

Concern'n creation - A sarcastic man said to his wife one day, "I don't know how ya can be so stupid and so beautiful all at the same time".

The quick witted wife responded, "Allow me to explain. God made me beautiful so ya would be attracted to me; God made me stupid so I would be attracted to you!"

That shore put him in his proper place.

Bill Jones and his wife were have'n a argument about who should brew the coffee each morn'n. The wife said, "You should do it because ya gets up first, and then we won't have ta wait so long to get our coffee.'

Bill sez, "You are in charge of cook'n around here and you should do it, because that is your job. and I can just wait fer my coffee!'

His wife replies, "No you should do it, and besides, it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee.'

Bill replies, "I can't believe that, show me!' She promptly fetches the Bible and, opened the New Testament and showed, Ole Bill, at the top of several pages, that it indeed sez "HEBREWS'.

Well, that's it fer this week. Keep that smile on yer face and pass it along to the next feller.

Hope'n to see you'ns in church this week and give'n thanks fer our many Bless'ns.